The Old Trout |
29-30 Lower High Street |
Thame |
England |
OX9 2AA |
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The Old Trout
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DESCRIPTION |
The Old Trout is full of surprises. The five hundred year old higgledypiggledy building never fails to delight as you wander round the narrow passages past the nooks and crannies ducking your head as you search for your room.Its history is as idiosyncratic as the building itself. Standing in the flag stoned bar your mind wanders back in time and you can just imagine a scene of Thame s favourite old sport Cock Fighting taking place some hundreds of years ago. Or James Figg Thame s All England Champion at cudgel play single stick and broadsword refreshing himself with a flagon of ale.Surprisingly your day dreaming would be wrong. The Old Trout has only been a hostelry for the last forty years and most of that as Thatchers .Before its transformation into a restaurant it was an antique shop and prior to that we believe it was a row of tiny cottages sadly not one of Thame s abundant old inns.So while many of Thame s original alehouses have become estate agents or gift shops The Old Trout has reversed the trend. As to the change of name from Thatchers to The Old Trout that can be put down to the previous owners sense of humour The grand cru Chateau Lynch Bages and premier cru Volnay en Champans lying in the dining area together with just a suggestion of the aroma of Roasted Cannon of Lamb Proven al emanating from the kitchen rather gives away the surprise of what awaits the eager diner.In fact if you've already heard of The Old Trout you'll know that we are proud of our reputation for excellent cuisine and fine wine. Within this unique and charming setting we offer a seasonally inspired and innovative menu created from the freshest local ingredients. The combination of sublime food an extensive and carefully chosen wine list and friendly unpretentious service ensures that every visit is a memorable one.And if you're feeling particularly replete and nostalgic after these epicurean delights we can even offer you a glass of 1966 Baron de Lustrac bas Armagnac.To enjoy the experience take your choice of tables. The Old Kitchen is a separate room for parties of up to fourteen. It was used in the filming of Brideshead Revisited for a spot of fine dining and intrigue away from Oxford. In fact The Old Trout has become quite desirable as a film set.The Middle Room and bar is equally fascinating with its exposed stonework and bread oven in the fireplace. It was the scene of revelry for Oxford University s infamous Assassins Club a boast upon which we don't wish to dwell for too long.Ask for Table Twenty and you are shown to an intimate lovers nook just off the third dining room.The choice is yours We have some idiosyncratic bedrooms for you to choose from a couple of them with 4 poster beds. For those who like to indulge book Room 1. You can crawl up the stairs from the bar indeed you need to crawl up the stairs from the bar. The bedroom door is on the stairs and is only three foot six inches high To get to room 2 you enter through its bathroom You want the best view in the house Then book Room 3. But be warned the view is from its bathroom that's actually larger than the bedroom.Despite all these peculiarities the beds really are rather comfortable even if some of them have been specially made to accomodate the sloping floors.We do have some normal rooms too. 7 8 in the annex may have none of the Olde Worlde foibles of the others but you'll still get just as good a night's sleep There is private parking to the rear of the Inn.From here you can walk round and enter from the High Street or take the back route through The Old Trout's walled garden.This is another delightful corner of the property where weather permitting you can dine al fresco surrounded by the creeping wisteria the vine and fragrant herbs.Given that the English weather doesn't always match that of the Mediterranean you might have to sip your aperitifs in the safety of the conservatory as you watch the rain fall outside.
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LOCATION |
Thame Parkway station is five miles away.On a good run Thame is a one hour drive from central London.West of Thame the A418 and A329 join the M40 motorway at Jctns 7 8. The Old Trout is situated at the Oxford end of High St. right in the centre of Thame |
